Journal-box.



No. 669,305. Patented mar. 5, |901.

M. w'. HIBBARD.

JOURNAL BOX.

( (Application mea ocr. 22, 1900. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 6694305. .Patented mar. 5, |901.

m. w. HlaBAnn.

JIJURNAL BOX.

(Application Bled 22, 1900.)

(nunmal.) 4 suma-sheet 2.

Patented Mar. 5, |901.

N0. 669,305. s M. W. HIBBARD.

JOURNAL BOX. Appumion med one. 22, 1900.) l(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shoot 3.

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. Patented Mar. 5, I90I.

M. W. HIBBABD. JOURNAL BOX.

vUNITED STATES ICI/WENTh OFFICE.

MAURY W. HIBBARD, OF CHICAGO,ILIJINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RICHARD FITZGERALD, OF SAMFPLACE.

JOURNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 669,305, dated March 5, 1901. Application filed October Z2, 1900. Serial No. 33,888. (No model.)

To all whom/ t 17m/y concern:

Be it known that I, MAURY W. HIBBARD, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to car j ournal-boxes; and its object is to prevent the unauthorized removal or theft of the bearings, which are made of brass, and therefore commonly called brasses In the operating of railways it is necessary to so construct the journal-boxes for the caraxles that they can be easily opened for the purpose of oiling and packing with waste and also for the purpose of removing and replacing the brasses in case they become worn out or become hot, causing cutting of the brasses and journals. The above requirements render it easy for thieves to remove the brasses, which are of a superior quality of brass and of considerable weight, and as a matter. of common knowledge among railway men large numbers of brasses are stolen. This theft of brasses not only occasions a loss to the railroad directly due to the value of the brass, but also throws out of service any car whose journal has been robbed until another brass has been substituted; but in case the theft is not discovered until after the car has again gone into service then the loss to theV railroad is greater, because the bearing of the journal upon the key will heat the parts and cause cutting, so that new axles must be substituted and the old ones turned down in the machine-shop.

To prevent theft of the brasses and the consequent losses to the railroad companies and at the same time leave the journal-box easily accessible for oiling and the renewing of brasses is the object of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a planl of a portion of a car from the door-sills downward; Fig. 2, a side elevation of a portion of a car; Fig. 3, an enlarged longitudinal section of a journal-box, taken on line 3 3 ofFig. 4; Fig. 4, a sectional elevation taken on line 44of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a front elevation of a journal-box with lid removed, illustrating a modification;

Fig. 6, a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 8, an elevation of a box, illustrating a modification of the locking mechanism.

In the drawings is illustrated a typical car having the usual journal-box l, car journal or axle 2, brass 3, and key 4. To remove the brass, the box is lifted up, taking the weight othejournal, and the key is then withdrawn, whereupon the removal of the brass is an easy matter.

Within the journal-box I arrange a transverse bar or rod extending in front of the brass, b ut not in a position to interfere in any way with the oiling or packing of the journal. So long as this bar remains in position across the mouth or opening of the journal-box the brass cannot be removed. To hold and lock this bar inl such position, but yet permit of its removal by authorized parties, I have devised mechanism controlled by fluid-pressure, and as a modification I have shown the use of an ordinary padlock.

Referring to the air-pressure-controlled locks, (shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings,) the bar 5 has at one end a trunnion or projection 6, which ts into a corresponding hole in the side of the journal-box. From the other end of the bar a hole is drilled longitudinally for a portion of its length to receive a sliding bolt7, which is normally outwardly pressed beyond the end of the bar by means of the spring 8. The bar is of such length as to fit snugly between the opposite sides of the journal-box, and the bolt is therefore pressed outwardly into a hole 9 in the side of the box. So long as this bolt remains in the normal position shown the bar is securely locked in place.

Upon the side of the box adjacent to the locking-bolt I provide a case l0, which is separate from but bolted or riveted to the box when my invention is applied to boxes now in use or which may be cast integral with the box. This case has a cylindrical chamber ll, in which travels a pistonV l2, having a stem l3of the same diameter as the bolt 7, so as to enter the hole 9. In the preferred process of construction shown the outer end of the chamber 1l is closed by a screw-plug 14, after which the edges l5 are riveted over it.

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Extending through the case and entering chamber 11 behind its piston is a passage 16, opening out into a large opening, in which is arranged a gasket or gland 17, held in place by a Washer 18, over which the edge of the case may be riveted. A nozzle 19, communicating with any suitable or accessible supply of compressed air, is adapted to be in- 'serted in opening 16, and the gland forms a tight packing therefor. Y

Vhen air under pressure vis admitted through passage 16 to the chamber 11, the piston 12 travels to the left, Fig. a, whereupon its stem 13 will force bolt 7 also to the left against the tension of its spring. As the travel of the piston is equal to the thickness of the side wall of the box that is, the Width ot' hole 9, the bolt 7 will be driven in as far as the parting line or plane between the bar 5 and the journal-box, at which time such bar can be easily removed. When the air-nozzle is withdrawn, the pressure in chamber 11 is released, so that When the bar is replaced-its bolt will force the piston back to normal position. In the construction shown the travel of the piston happens to be equal to the thick- V4'ness of the wall of the box; but it is evident that the stem 13 could be lengthened and the travel shortened. In every case, however, the parting-line between the bar 7 and stem 13 must bc the inner surface of the Wall of the box.

While the use of compressed air from any source is contemplated as Within the scope of my invention, yet I prefer to use the compressed air of the air-brake system. When the brasses are to be removed by the proper parties, there is always air on the car or at the track side, which is not the case when the car is standing on a switch, side track, or in the yards, this being the time When the thefts of the brasses are perpetrated.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a system of piping adapted to be put into communication with the air-brake system to unlock a journal-box. The top and bottom of the usual auxiliary reservoir 20 are provided with an opening to accommodate the bleeder in either place. I employ the unoccupied opening for a connection with a branch pipe 21, communicating With a main pipe 22, running both ways longitudinally of the car to a point substantially midway of the trucks, Where it connects by a T with a branch pipe 23. This latter pipe extends transversely of the car and is provided near each end'with a valve 2st. To each end of the pipe is connected a hose-pipe 25, having a nozzle 20 and of sut'- ficient length to reach eac'h journal-box. As shown, each side of the truck has its own hose, although it is obvious that a single detachable hose might suffice for all the journal-boxes; also, that a single hose reaching from the auxiliary reservoir might be used and the special piping be dispensed With. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the hose 25 When not in use might be suspended on a box to act as a stop. The other end of this rod projects through the sides of the box and into a case 31, which may be separate from or integral with the journal-box. As shown, however, it is riveted to the box, thereby illustrating the facility with which my invention may be applied to the many boxes no7 in use. The case 31 has a cylindrical chamber 32, closed at its outer end by a screw-plug 33, over which the edges 34 may be riveted. A piston 35 travels in this chamber and is normally upwardly pressed by the spring 36. This piston has a stem 37, which is normally fprced into a transverse opening 38 in the rod A passage 39 extends through the case and enters chamber 32 above its piston. This passage is enlarged at its outer end, so as to receive the nozzle 40, which communicates With a source of duid-pressure. This passage may have a packing-gland 41 to form a tight joint With the nozzle. Assuming that the parts are in the position shown and that it is desired to unlock the rod 28, the nozzle 40 is insertedin passage 39 and the fluid-pressure admitted above the piston, forcing the same downward and withdrawing its stem or locking-bolt 37 from the rod 2S. This rod is now free to be removed and access to the brass is possible. The extreme end of the rod 25 is preferably made conical, so as to depress the piston when the rod is inserted in place, so that When its opening 38 registers with stem or bolt 37 the latter will spring into place and prevent the removal of that bolt until duid-pressu re is again employed to move the piston.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modification of the IOO IIO

locking mechanism. In this construction the rod or bar 41 is similar to the rod 28, (shown in Figs. 5 to 7,) being provided at one end with a transverse opening 42, through Which passes the shackle of an ordinary padlock 43 or similar lock. Obviously so long as the lock is locked the rod or bar cannot be removed. Keys may be supplied to the trainmen just as in the case of switch-lock keys.

I claim- 1. In combination with a car-journal and its box, means arranged Within the boX for preventing the unauthorized removal or theft of the journal-brass therefrom, such means permitting access to the box at all times.

2. In combination with a car-journal and its box and lid, a bar or rod independent of the box-lid and so located as to prevent removal of the brass bearing of the journal and means for locking such bar in said position.

3. In combination with a car-journal and its box and lid, a bar or rod arranged Within the box and extending transversely of the box in front of the brass bearing and means for locking such bar to the box, said bar and 'lid being independently movable.

4L. In combination with a car-journal and its box, fluid-pressure-actuated means adapted to prevent the unauthorized removal or theft of the journal-brass.

5. In combination with a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod located in front of the journal-bearing and uid-pressure mechanism adapted to control such bar.

6. In combination with a car-journal and its box and lid, a bar or rod independent of the lid and so located in the box as to prevent the removal of the journal-brass, a locking device for locking the bar in the box and means for unlocking said device.

7. In combination with a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod located in front of the journal-brass, a locking device for locking the bar to the box and fluid-pressure mechanism for unlocking said device.

8. In combination with a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod located in front of the journal-brass, a locking-bolt arranged Within the bar and adapted to project therefrom to engage the box and thereby lock the bar thereto and means for unlocking such bolt.

9. In combination with 'a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod located in front of the .journal-brass, a spring-pressed locking-boltarranged in the bar and normally projecting therefrom and engaging the box and means for forcing the bolt into the bar to permit the removal of the latter from the box.

10. In combination with a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod having an opening from one end, an outwardly-springpressed locking-bolt sliding in said opening and normally projected from the end thereof, said box having an opening in its Wall to receive such bolt, a piston having a stem adapted to force the bolt from the opening in the box and into the bar and means for supplying duid-pressure to the piston.

11. In combination with a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod having a hole entering from one end, an outwardly-spring-pressed locking-bolt in said hole and normally projecting from the end thereof, said box having an opening in its Wall to receive such bolt, a case on the side of the box and having a chamber in line with said opening and a piston arranged in said chamber and having a stem adapted to drive said bolt from such opening.

12. In combination with a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod extending between the sides of the box 'in front of the journal-brass and having at one end a projection 6 entering one side Wall of the box and having a longitudinal hole entering the other end, a spring pressed locking-bolt sliding in said hole and normally projected to enter an opening 9 in the other side Wall of the box and duid-pressure mechanism adapted to drive said bolt from the opening 9 and permit the removal ofthe bar.

13. In combination With a car-journal and its box, a bar or rod extending between the sides of the box in front of the journal-brass and having a longitudinal hole entering one end, a spring-pressed locking-bolt sliding in said hole and normally projected to enter an opening 9 in one Wall of the box, a case 10 on the side of the box and having a piston-chamber 11, a piston 12 traveling therein and a piston-stem 13 adapted to enter opening 9 and drive back the locking-bolt, said case having a fluid-pressure-supply passage 16 entering chamber 11.

14. A car-journal having a fluid-pressurecontrolled locking device to prevent theft of the journal-brass, in combination With the air-brake system of the car and a valve-oontrolled connection between said system and Said locking device for utilizing the pressure of such system.

15. A car-journal having a fluid-pressurecontrolled locking device to prevent theft of the journal-brass, in combination with the air-brake system of the car and a valve-controlled connection between the auxiliary reservoir and said locking device.

16. A car-journal having a fluid-pressurecontrolled locking device to prevent theft of the journal-brass, in combination With the air-brake system of the car, a main pipe 22 communicating with the auxiliary reservoir and extending longitudinally of the car, branch pipes 23 at the ends of pipe 22 and a flexible pipe 25 connected to the end of pipes 23 and adapted to reach the locking device of the journals and supply fluid pressure thereto.

MAURY W. HIBBARD.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL E. HIBBEN, LOUISE E. SERAGE.

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